Special Relativity

March 22, 2008 at 6:13 AM

Einstein's theory of special relativity has been proven, at least from my perspective this past week. While everyone else's clocks have been clicking along at a steady pace, my clock has been speeding along so fast that trying to manage a few minutes of practice time had me tempted to break some laws of physics.

Until recently, I've been able to balance work and music like a well balanced timepiece. A wrench was placed in my cogs. My practice time shrunk to mere minutes a day. My ability to keep a seperation between work and music has taken a turn for the worse.

I managed to break away from the office a bit early today. I eagerly headed home to my beloved music. I place my fingers on the fingerboard like it was a keyboard, and hold the bow like it was a mouse. The music in my head is not what is written on the page, but the beeps, bleeps and various sounds coming from my computer.

Better to put Hilda back to bed and wait until tomorrow. Maybe a good night's rest will bring the music back.

I should also take Buri's advise and learn how to meditate.

From Yixi Zhang
Posted on March 22, 2008 at 7:00 AM

Mendy, I can relate. Violin and viola are such emotional instruments that I find unless my work mind is completely turned off, I can’t play it. Buri’s advice on meditation and Alexander Technique saved my sanity and lot of pain. Once I’ve learned the initial AT technique (about 10 lessons or so from a certified AT teacher), it takes me only 5-10 minutes of AT thinking to release enough tension/stress to be able to in a good practice mode. I uploaded the meditation CDs onto my ipod and listen to it while I’m walking to and from work. I’m sure some of my coworkers think I must be on some kind of drugs;)

I hope you get some time off during the long weekend.

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on March 22, 2008 at 11:43 AM

I can relate too. I often find that after 5 minutes or so of just playing something, anything, those other noises in my head start to die away. It's mostly a matter of finding the energy to take the instrument out of the case.

From Neil Cameron
Posted on March 22, 2008 at 12:58 PM

Funnily enough, my experience tends to be the reverse to Yixi's. Lately I've been coming home from stressful days at work, walking straight to the viola and playing for a hour just to unwind.

Neil

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on March 22, 2008 at 2:46 PM

I'm surprised that Buri didn't recommend prunes.

From Natasha Marsalli
Posted on March 22, 2008 at 5:27 PM

It's so hard to find quiet in such a busy and noisy world! I totally relate! My favorite place to collect my thoughts is the shower...just enough "white noise" to drown out the traffic, the tv, and bickering siblings. ;) It's so hard to focus on music when we still have frantic noise bouncing around....:-P
Good luck and happy practicing!

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on March 23, 2008 at 7:29 AM

I recommend yoga. It is deeply relaxing for both body and brain. It can be a very spiritual experience which includes meditation. It helps me get centered in a more positive place. It is very healing.

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Special Relativity

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